Ochlcnschlacgcr's Hakon Jarl 77 



The sea is Mimer's deep-dug' well, that gives 

 To Odin's eye its strength. Aye, doubly bright 

 The sun comes up deliciously refreshed 

 By cooling morning waves. 



Erling. But father, oh ! 



It rises much too higli ; I can't endure 

 To look at it; it burns my eyes. 



Hakon. My son, 



Th' All-father now ascends his iiery stool, 

 And soon his g-aze will fill the world below. 

 His golden throne completely dazzles man. 

 For who presumes to look upon the King 

 Of day, of life, in all his noon-day splendor ? 



Erling. [Looks about full of fear. 



Oh father, father, look ! What horrid men 

 Are those, so old and grim, behind the trees? 



Hakon. Be not so bold, my son ! The gods, in stone, 

 The statues of the blessed gods thus hewn 

 By pious men. The}^ dazzle not the eye. 

 Before them Askur's'^- sons may calmly kneel 

 And look upon their countenance undazed. 

 Come, view them closer, child. 



Erling. No father, no ! 



I am afraid. See there ; the one that wears 

 That long white beard, how ugly, grim, he looks ; 

 He makes me shake with fear. 



Hakon. Ah, Erling! Erling! 



God Odin, he. Art thou afraid of Odin ? 



Erling. No, no; I fear not Odin, him who lives 

 In heaven yonder; he is great and good, 

 And never frightens me ; he causes flowers 

 To spring from out the earth ; just now he shone 

 Himself as if he were a flower. But that. 

 That pale-faced ghost, — he stares and stares, as if 

 He wished to take my life. 



Hakon. My son, my Erling! 



115 



